Chapter 72: Chance Encounter

At this time, the Empress was still a lively young girl, and the domineering aura of the later line "The Zhen Huan who entered the palace is dead; I am Niohuru Zhen Huan" had not yet emerged.

At this time, she was not yet well-known; last year she had just participated in the "Talented Newcomers" contest held by "Media 8 Channel."

With her youthful and spirited performance, she won the favor of many judges in the competition.

However, she ultimately lost to the overall female champion Liao Yingying, securing only second place and the Wisdom Award.

Yet this also created the opportunity for her to be noticed by Hai Yan's elder brother, who favored handsome young male leads.

Soon after, she joined Hai Run Entertainment and became its first signed artist.

As Hai Run's "number one female star," Hai Yan spared no effort in promoting her; by year's end, she starred in Hai Run Film and Television's modern drama Jade Goddess of Mercy.

Leveraging the success of Jade Goddess of Mercy, Happiness is Like a Flower became a massive hit, and Empresses in the Palace propelled her directly to the status of a top-tier actress.

Sun Li's television dramas were almost all blockbusters—each one she filmed became a hit.

In contrast, our Super Brother began this year to take on one historical drama after another, repeatedly portraying emperors and earning the nickname "Emperor Specialist."

This couple was also considered a model pair in the entertainment industry in later generations; as for rumors circulating in gossip circles, opinions varied.

"Great! Everyone else is being chased by reporters and forced into interviews, but you two are slacking off here—I'm going to tell the director!"

Sun Li said with a grin.

Cheng Chen and Hou Yong exchanged a helpless glance; they'd been caught by this little brat.

During actor meetings, Sun Li was especially lively and loved joking around with everyone.

But she always stopped short, eliciting laughter without causing offense.

"By the way, Cheng Heavenly King, it seems like the most reporters want to interview you—what if those reporters found out you're hiding here…"

Sun Li's big eyes darted mischievously; compared to the thirty-something Hou Yong, Sun Li clearly enjoyed teasing Cheng Chen, her peer.

Cheng Chen sighed and extended one finger:

"One barbecue meal—please, Lady Heroine, spare me."

"Add a whole Peking duck from Quanjude!"

"Deal!"

Cheng Chen said with visible pain.

Hou Yong stood beside him, grinning with gossipy delight.

"Three masters, Group A is ready—shall we head over?"

A crew member walked up and said.

The Great Dye House was divided into three shooting groups—A, B, and C—and the first day's scenes were light, meant to help everyone bond and build chemistry.

After wrap, everyone gathered for a casual dinner.

Only after everything ended did Cheng Chen return to the dormitory assigned to him by The Great Dye House crew.

For an actor of Cheng Chen's level, the accommodation was luxurious compared to his earlier days as a background extra.

Private bathroom, 24-hour hot water, and a TV to watch.

Cheng Chen was very satisfied with this living arrangement.

After washing up, Cheng Chen sat at the desk and began studying the script.

It had to be said, grounded-in-reality dramas were endlessly captivating; the script contained many brilliant plot designs, all drawn from real life.

For example, Chen Shouting discovered the precise temperature for dyeing fabric—81℃—by using a small squid during the transition from manual to mechanized production.

Thus he created the "Flying Tiger Brand," which produced vibrant, colorfast dyes and sold nationwide.

According to the interview with Zhang Shengkun, grandson of Zhang Qiyuan, founder of the Jizhou Dongyuan Sheng Dye Factory:

The main plot of The Great Dye House was based on the development of Dongyuan Sheng; his grandfather Zhang Qiyuan had indeed used squid to test water temperature during dyeing, and The Great Dye House faithfully reproduced this core technique.

As a biographical film and television drama,

these were merely basic requirements, unlike later-generation dramas fabricated by Screenwriters' wild imaginations.

Haven't you seen female leads in car accidents who somehow achieve 1620° aerial spins while maintaining mid-air suspension, pausing to lock eyes with the male lead for a 60-second romantic stare?

Could a carbon-based lifeform have conceived such a plot?

After studying the script for a while, Cheng Chen checked the time—it was 2:30 a. m.

He patted his empty stomach, stood up, and headed downstairs.

There was a 24-hour convenience store on the third floor; Cheng Chen went there to find his late-night companion: instant noodles.

He searched around but couldn't find the flavor he wanted; however, he spotted a familiar figure.

Cheng Chen stared at the familiar tall back:

"Danchen?"

Yan Danchen turned around, surprised to see Cheng Chen—she hadn't expected to meet someone she knew at this hour, in this place.

So she hadn't applied makeup and had stepped out wearing only a mask.

She had just finished bathing, wore a light coat over her, and beneath it was her fitted sleepwear, perfectly outlining her ample chest.

"Cheng Chen?"

"What are you doing here?"

Both asked each other in unison, astonished.

"I'm filming here!"

Again they answered simultaneously; Cheng Chen silently marveled at their unspoken chemistry.

With this level of unspoken chemistry, he hadn't managed to achieve even a fraction of it after a full day with the rest of the cast!

"I remember—you're filming That House Across the Street, right? Your crew also set up dorms here?"

Cheng Chen exclaimed in realization.

"Yes, we've been here nearly half a month already—your The Great Dye House isn't…hehe, we really are fated to meet."

Yan Danchen smiled and said.

"It's fate…"

The two sat in a slightly more secluded corner; the hotel's privacy was excellent.

Added to that, the first, second, and fourth floors had been entirely booked by their two film crews, so there was no need to worry about reporters sneaking in.

No sooner had they sat down than Cheng Chen began devouring his food—he was truly hungry; during dinner with the crew that night, he'd only focused on drinking.

Though he had a good tolerance for alcohol, and since filming was scheduled for tomorrow, everyone had only taken sips, his stomach was still empty.

He'd relied purely on willpower to hold out until now; at this late hour, hunger surged like a ferocious tiger.

In contrast, Yan Danchen's eating manners were far more refined, forming a sharp contrast with the wolf-like man across from her.

"I thought actresses as beautiful as you wouldn't dare eat at night!"

Cheng Chen said with a laugh.

"Why?"

"Afraid of gaining weight, afraid of losing your figure."

Cheng Chen said as if it were obvious.

Yan Danchen swallowed the food in her mouth; perhaps because they were alone late at night, she was more relaxed than usual, and patted her chest and said:

"Do I look fat?"

"Yes."

Cheng Chen replied without hesitation, silently adding to himself:

Certain parts.

"Hm?"

His words made Yan Danchen's eyes flare with anger, but then she noticed Cheng Chen's repeated, casual glances.

A flush immediately rose on her bare, fair face.

"Pervert…"

She spat softly.

…